Sew a Simple Chic Crossbody Purse

Sheer panels in clothing are the “in” thing right now, and this tutorial will show you how to make a simple adaptation to any sewing pattern so that you can be among the trend-setting crowd this New Year’s Eve.

Here’s how:
1. Prepare your pattern and prewash your fabric. I used the Wiksten tank pattern (tunic length for this top) and printed the pattern on my home printer.

2. Determine where you want your sheer panel to be; mine is at the top of the front pattern piece. Use a paper trimmer to cut a straight line across the pattern.

3. Next, use the top part of the pattern to cut the panel from the sheer fabric. It is important to add a seam allowance (in this case, ¼”) along the cut edge so that you don’t lose measurement on the sizing.

4. Repeat step three for the bottom part of the front panel piece with your main fabric, again, remembering to add the necessary seam allowance.
5. Sew the sheer panel to the main fabric pattern piece with ¼” seam allowance, with right sides facing.

6. Press the seam allowance down and topstitch to the main fabric to prevent it from being seen through the sheer fabric.

7. With your sheer panel now inserted into your garment, you can now continue to sew up the top according to your pattern directions.
8. Hemming on a curve such as with this pattern can sometimes be tricky. It helps to sew a line of basting stitches ¼” in from the raw edge to give you a ‘perforated’ guide.

Turn up the fabric along the basting stitches and slowly press with an iron all the way around. Repeat by turning and pressing the fabric another ¼” to hide the raw edge.